Chapter 77

“How are you going to prove your innocence, Johannes Frache? If you’re so confident, do it now, here.”

“I can do it if I meet the Saintess and learn about her actions.”

“You couldn’t do it even though you know all her actions, and you think you can just by hearing about them?”

“She must have been flustered because this situation was new to her. If I help…”

How much Sir Frache liked the Saintess was evident from his past actions, even without consulting any books. At first, he might have just liked her for taking good care of the children, but as time passed, it became clear that he was growing fond of her. That’s why Edelis even hoped the Saintess would open her heart to Sir Frache and that they would live happily ever after. However, the situation changed if the person was accused of abduction, murder, and instigation, not just an insult to the imperial family. At this moment, Sir Frache was in a politically dangerous situation just by defending her. Yet, Sir Frache was Lehan’s old friend and the young duke of a ducal family that supported the nation. Moreover, Edelis had received help from his sister, and after exchanging letters, his sister was one of Edelis’s few close friends. So, it seemed best to persuade him to come to his senses.

“If you help, do you think you can get her acquitted?”

“Yes.”

“Even if she truly committed the crime, it might be possible with the power of the ducal family.”

“Your Majesty! I am not trying to cover up a crime!”

Sir Frache pleaded with Edelis as if he were truly wronged.

“Your Majesty, as you’ve seen the Saintess, why would she have any reason to abduct you? There must be a separate culprit.”

“A separate culprit?”

“Yes, so shouldn’t it be my duty as the Imperial Knights Commander to find the real culprit instead of imprisoning the innocent Saintess?”

“That would be true if there were a separate culprit.”

“So, the Saintess…”

He seemed about to ask for her release or to be allowed to meet her. But that was only if there truly was a separate culprit.

“Sir Frache. I’ve spoken with her about the reason you pointed out for abducting me, and she directly admitted it.”

“Th-that can’t be.”

“His Majesty the Emperor was also present. Are you still going to deny it?”

Denying this was akin to challenging the Emperor’s authority. Therefore, the desire to deny it was evident on Sir Frache’s face, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak it aloud. It was a relief that he had that much discernment.

“B-but she couldn’t have committed the crime!”

“Sir, His Majesty and I gathered circumstantial evidence from the time and identified her as the culprit. But what about you?”

“…”

“Aren’t you acting on nothing but the belief that she couldn’t have done it?”

Sir Frache’s gaze, which had been directed at Edelis, wandered aimlessly in the air before falling to the floor. Edelis’s heart ached at the sight of Sir Frache. Through her conversation with the Saintess, she learned that the Saintess had abducted her to change reality, just as she had seen in the book. The reason she chose abduction instead of murder seemed to be to correct the starting point. So, it was clear that the Saintess was the true culprit. Perhaps that’s why her heart ached even more.

“Johannes Frache, go cool your head.”

“That, that doesn’t seem possible.”

Sir Frache’s eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them. He lifted his head to hold back the tears, but the overflowing tears trickled down his face.

“Sir Frache, please rest at your mansion for now. I will contact you later.”

“…Yes.”

Sir Frache, his eyes still full of tears, bowed to Lehan and Edelis. After he left, Lehan still wore a dejected expression and sighed deeply.

***

Several days passed, but there was no significant progress. The search for the book also yielded nothing. Every place within half a day’s distance from where Edelis had been held captive was thoroughly searched, but the book’s whereabouts remained unknown. No particular unusual circumstances were found in either the temple or the imperial palace residence. The Saintess continued to claim her innocence and remained confined in the palace, and Berman Pasis said nothing more than to summon the Saintess.

“Lehan.”

“Yes.”

“I think we need to let the Saintess and Pasis meet. Otherwise, nothing is progressing.”

“…There was a time when we apprehended those who attacked you. And before we could interrogate them about who was behind it, they were all poisoned in prison.”

“…”

“They might have been anti-imperialists, but now that I think about it, they might have been knights of the Holy Empire.”

Petty criminals wouldn’t dare to block the Emperor’s procession and attempt to assassinate the Empress. Moreover, when they clashed swords with the Imperial Knights, they showed too much sign of being trained.

“That means this time, too, they might be silenced before we can ask who the client is, which is why I’ve prevented it.”

“So, Berman Pasis is in a secret prison.”

“That’s not the only reason, though.”

Lehan smiled gently, his words carrying an underlying meaning.

“So, if the Saintess and Pasis meet this time, we’ll need to pay more attention to Pasis’s meals afterward.”

“Even with the Saintess imprisoned?”

“Even if she’s imprisoned, she’s not completely cut off from the outside, is she?”

“How…”

“We’ve assigned trustworthy individuals as guards, but it’s possible there are believers among them.”

“This is really difficult.”

Lehan smiled awkwardly and caressed Edelis’s cheek.

“I didn’t want you to know about such things.”

“I was the one abducted, Lehan. I have a right to know.”

“Still, I wanted you to see only beautiful and good things. What you saw that was dirty and ugly was enough on the day we first met, in the arena.”

“I don’t want to turn a blind eye to reality.”

“The position of Emperor isn’t always filled with bright and pleasant matters. Will you still be okay with that?”

“I know. There will be days of power struggles with ministers and tense psychological battles with other nations.”

“…There aren’t any nations that make my blood run dry, though.”

“That’s just an expression, an expression.”

“I know.”

She chuckled at Lehan’s playful tone after a serious conversation. Yes, it was the largest nation on the continent, the Cronad Empire. But that also meant that the ministers would be constantly eyeing power.

“But I can’t help but worry.”

“About what?”

“You never wanted to become Empress, and you just wanted to live a humble life in your territory as someone’s ordinary wife, didn’t you?”

“…Now? So, if I ask for a divorce, will you grant it?”

“Do you want one? No, you don’t have to answer. As Edelis said, I have no intention of letting you go now.”

Even if Edelis had wanted a divorce at first, she had no such desire now. Originally, she might have died from a knife wound, but her growing affection for Lehan was a concern. But now, she wouldn’t die by Lehan’s knife, and he had become much better than before.

‘But divorce? Even if Lehan asked for it, I’d refuse.’

“Lehan, I clearly wanted to live a humble life as someone’s ordinary wife.”

“I know.”

“Oh? It seems you don’t know something.”

“What do you mean?”

“The only person I wanted to marry was a commoner from a gladiator background.”

“…”

“Oh, and there were strict conditions too. Not belonging to a family, and—”

“Someone with enough combat power to serve as a guard… Is that what you mean?”

Lehan chuckled, recalling his own words from the past. It was what he had said when Edelis was debating leaving the mansion and asked him.

“Exactly.”

As Edelis spoke with a bright smile, Lehan, overcome with emotion, pulled her hand and embraced her.

“So, Lehan, don’t worry too much. I have no intention of leaving you.”

“…Yes.”

***

While they were enjoying their happy time, the Saintess was pacing inside the confined palace. However, even that was frustrating because she couldn’t move freely due to her restraints.

“It’s taking longer than I thought!”

She didn’t think she would be stuck here for so many days, and seeing that even the priests weren’t coming, it seemed there was a problem. Although she secretly slipped notes to her believers among the guards, it was rare for both guards to be believers, making visits extremely difficult. She had asked for Lorenz to be summoned, but she heard that the Empire’s vigilance was so extreme that crossing the border itself was almost impossible.

“How long do I have to stay here like this?”

The Saintess gnawed at her fingernails in anxiety.

“What if I’m suddenly executed like this?!”

As long as they held the weakness of the Princess, it was unlikely that Berman Pasis would open his mouth. The priests kept telling her to wait, but they never gave her a definite answer as to when she would be released, which was frustrating.

“That’s why Lorentz needs to come quickly!”

Just as her nerves were at their most frayed, a note was suddenly slipped through the gap in the door. The Saintess snatched it, quickly unfolded it, and read its contents.

“Yes, that’s right. I just need to hold on a little longer.”

The Saintess read it several times and committed it to memory before burning it with the small lantern light that barely illuminated the darkness.

***

Days passed, but the book’s whereabouts were still unknown. However, Edelis wasn’t overly concerned. After all, Berman Pasis, who tried to kill her, was imprisoned, and the Saintess was confined in the palace. In fact, reality was the opposite of the book. But incidents always happened when one was off guard.

“What’s all that commotion outside?”

Edelis heard the noisy sounds and went out onto the balcony, but she saw nothing noticeable. However, that was only what was visible from the balcony, and soon Lehan burst into the room.

“Edelis, please take cover, just in case.”

“What’s going on?”

“…The common people have risen up.”

“Rebellion?!”

“It’s a little different from rebellion; it’s the general imperial citizens, not the nobility, who are leading it.”

She couldn’t understand what he was talking about. Something that would make the common people rise up…

“The Saintess?”

“It seems so. Their purpose hasn’t been confirmed yet, so please take cover for now.”

“Le-Lehan. You? I can’t go alone!”

“The Emperor cannot leave the palace.”

“The Emperor can’t leave the palace, but the Empress can? That doesn’t make sense.”

“There’s no time, Edelis.”

Lehan, looking frustrated, took off the cloak draped over his shoulders and covered Edelis’s head with it.

“Ferrin will go with you. I’ve also sent an urgent message to Frache, so it will be quelled soon. Don’t worry too much.”

As they argued, the voices of the people grew louder. Indeed, they were shouting to return the Saintess.

“Lehan. Isn’t staying by your side the safest? Their goal is the Saintess.”

“No. Going through the palace’s secret passage is safest. Even if something happens to me, I want you to be safe.”

“…Lehan.”

Edelis looked as if she was about to cry. Clearly, just a short while ago, she had been intoxicated with victory. There wasn’t much left, and a happy ending would soon be before them. But for the believers to attack the palace…

“Please go quickly. I need to command the army immediately.”

“…Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

Ferrin led Edelis through a secret passage he knew. Edelis looked back a few times before disappearing with him. Lehan watched until her back was no longer visible, then immediately ordered the knights.

“Head to the palace where the Saintess is confined! They are also citizens of the Empire, so do not kill them!”